1. – 2. Arrive in Beijing; sightseeing of Forbidden City , one of the largest temple complexes in the world; stroll through the the Tiananmen Square (Gate of Heavenly Peace) and the vanishing small streets and lanes of Old Beijing; dinner - Beijing Duck, local specialty (optional).
3. Beijing: Full day sightseeing of the Great Wall , one of the largest structures ever built by mankind; evening: performance of the Beijing Opera with dinner (optional)
4. Beijing: sightseeing Summer Palace of Chinese emperors and Temple of Heaven , a place where the "sons of heavens" used to come to pray for bountiful harvest; night transfer by train to Xi´an.
5. Xi´an (Si-an): visit the legendary Terracotta Army of Emperor Qin's tomb (the First Chinese Emperor of the Qin (Chin) Dynasty) - 8,000+ life-sized terracotta figures, warriors and horses, speculated that many contained treasures and sacrificial objects that were to accompany the emperor in his after life; monumental fortification; Grand Minaret; evening stroll through the Muslim quarter. 
6. Xi´an: Taoist monastery of Eight Immortals, Pagoda of Little Wild Goose (7th century); afternoon and night transfer by train to Chengdu.
7. Chengdu (Tchheng-tu): the unique panda breeding and research center; the wonderful Buddhist Wenshu Temple with vegetarian restaurant and tea houses; plaza with giant statue of Mao; dinner local specialty (optional).

8. Lhasa: morning flight to Lhasa; visit Sera Monastery, one of the largest in Tibet; walk through narrow lanes of Barkhor, the Tibetan quarter of Lhasa
9. Lhasa: visit the seat of the Dalai Lamas, Potala Palace ; the former Summer Palace Norbulinka; witness evening prayer at Jokhang Temple , the holiest of Tibetan temples.
10. Lhasa – Gyantse: full day transfer to Gyantse, past stunning views of crystal blue waters of the holy Lake Yamdrok in elevation of 4500 m above sea level.
11. Gyantse:  one of the best preserved Tibetan towns; see Pelkor Chöde Monastery with the famous and one of the largest stupas in Asia called Kumbum; visit Gyantse Fort; afternoon transfer to Shigatse.
12. Shigatse: the seat of the Panchen Lama; visit Tašilhünpo Monastery, join pilgrim's circuit - "kora" - around the monastery; see the ruins of the Shigatse Fort, the visit the fascinating local market.

13. – 14. Shigatse to the Tibet-Nepal border: start with side trip to former capital of Sakya with a famous monastery of the same name; second day across 5,000 m high passes with grand views of some 8,000 m peaks of the High Himalayas.

15. Border to Kathmandu: from immigration formalities to Kathmandu and the tourist quarter of Thamel.
16. Kathmandu: all day sightseeing: ancient city of Bhakthapur , Hindu holy temple of Pashupatinath; monkey temples of  Swayambhunath with grand view of Kathmandu Valley.
17. Kathmandu: for those interested possibility of optional flight around Mt. Everest, or more sightseeing in the valley - royal city of Patan ; afternoon flight to Varanasi.
18. Varanasi: early morning boat ride on the Ganges, visit the bathing and cremation "ghats"; Golden Temple, the holiest Hindu temple; stroll through old city lanes and bazaars, soak in the medieval atmosphere; evening sleeper train to Agra.
19. Agra: the legendary tomb of love, Taj Mahal ; former seat of Indian emperors, Red Fort ; incredibly decorated tomb of Itimaduddaula.
20. Transfer to the capita, Delhi; visit Friday Mosque with fine view of Red Fort; evening visit the Main Bazaar.
21. Delhi: all day sightseeing of the city: the "tower of victory", Qutub Minar ; the Iron Pillar, dating back to the 4th century, erected as a flagstaff in honor of the Hindu god, Vishnu, and in the memory of the Gupta king Chandragupta II (375-413). (How the pillar moved to its present location remains a mystery. The pillar also highlights ancient India's achievements in metallurgy. The pillar is made of 98 per cent wrought iron and has stood. 1,600 years without rusting or decomposing.); then we visit the Bahai Temple in the shape of a lotus flower; Presidential Palace; and Raj Ghat, where Gandhi was cremated; at night departure home.